As every other Glader also realized that the doors weren't shutting, they all went into panic mode.
"Everyone, grab what you can and start to barricade the doors!" Thomas yelled out.
"Tommy, that's not going to stop them. You should know that." Newt told him.
"Yeah but if we don't do anything, everyone is going to panic more." I told Newt.
Everyone in the Glade scrambled around trying to find anything and everything to put in front of the four large doorways.
As I ran into the woods to gather whatever materials I could find, that's when I heard it.
The slow, eery, mechanical whirl of a griever.
A few seconds later, it was followed my a terrified scream.
I froze in my tracks, as everything went silent.
"EVERYONE HIDE!" I could hear Thomas yelling from across the Glade.
The whirling of the nearby griever grew louder and closer.
Now, I know the safest place in the Glade is the homestead, but there was no way I was going to make it.
I could barley run with my broken ribs.
So, I went as fast as I could over to the pond.
Now, it really wasn't a pond.
It was a small body of water on the lowest part of the woods where all the rain water collected.
It was only about four feet deep in the center.
It was stagnant and murky, but what other choice did I have?
I jumped in and swam to the middle.
I pulled myself under the water and sunk myself down to the bottom on my back.
I opened my eyes and stared up, trying to keep my focus on holding my breath and not losing where the surface was.
Underwater, everything was so quiet.
My heartbeat thumped loudly thought my ears, as I could hear the muffled screams from the Glader's.
The red light of the griever standing by the water reflected across the surface above.
Every step it took caused the ground below me to vibrate.
My lungs were getting tight and my throat burned.
But, I just needed to hold on a little longer.
Just until it passed to by me enough time to made it to the homestead.
My mind seemed to grow cloudy and my vision grew spotty, as the griever walked away to the point where I couldn't feel its heavy footsteps shaking the ground anymore.
I quickly stood up, pushing my head through the surface and back into the air.
I took in large gasps of air, as I wiped the muddy water from my eyes.
I looked around frantically to make sure there was no griever in sight, before I pulled myself to shore and out of the water.
I ran the best I could out of the woods, stumbling over loose rocks and roots that stuck out of the ground.
As I got the the edge of the woods I stopped at the sound of crackling.
I turned back to look into the woods.
My heart sank into my stomach as I saw Alby running from the burning map room.
"No...." I muttered quietly.
But, there was nothing I could do.
The map room was already engulfed in flames.
It was too late.
Everything that we worked for in that maze over the last three years was gone.
I started running as best I could towards the homestead after Alby.
He locked eyes with me, as he pushed through the door and slammed it shut behind him.
I tugged on the door and I wouldn't budge an inch.
"Let me in!" I screamed, pounding on the door with my fists.
The door opened a small amount.
Someone stuck there hand out, grabbing me by the neck of my shirt, pulling me into the homestead.
A large handful of Glader's sat on the floor, huddled together.
Everyone was silent.
That's when I could hear the mechanical movements of the griever that was crawling on the side of the building.
The griever kicked its legs into the side of the building, making a large hole.
It reached its metal claw through the hole, grabbing Chuck.
"NO!" I screamed out, as I rushed over.
Everyone close by grabbed a hold of Chuck, trying to pull him away from the griever's grip.
As Chuck broke free from the metal claw, we all fell backwards.
I grabbed onto Chuck, holding onto him with all my might.
"I won't let him get you." I told him.
The griever reached his arm in, trying to search for its next victim.
I looked over to see Alby staring at it.
He looked almost mesmerized by it.
Alby then looked at me, but only for a second.
There was nothing I could do or say to Alby to change what he was about to do.
Alby had already made up his mind.
He and I both knew that the griever out there wasn't leaving empty handed.
"Get them out, Thomas." Alby said loudly, before he ran and jumped onto the griever.
The griever quickly retreated, running back to the maze.
I got up, walking over to the wall where the griever was.
I looked out the hole in the wall, to see the rest of the grievers that had been attacking the maze doing the same thing.
I turned back and my eyes scanned across every face in the room, looking for Newt.
"Newt!" I called out frantically.
I then let out my two toned whistle.
I could see the crowd of people start to separate, as Newt pushed his way through.
A wave of relief flowed over me, at the sight of him.
Newt grabbed a hold of me, pulling me into his chest, and wrapping his arms around me tightly.
"I thought they got you." Newt spoke with a breath of relief, as he held me for another second longer.
Newt then gripped the sides of my face with his hands.
"You're all wet and covered in mud." Newt told me.
"I know, I had to hide in the pond." I quickly said back.
"You stay next to me at all times, you hear? I'm not letting you out of my sight." Newts eyes bounced between both of mine as he spoke.
I quickly nodded yes.
"Good." Newt said, as he kissed my cheek quickly.
"Mhmmmm, I think you missed there, bud." Minho chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood.
I hadn't realized that Minho, Thomas, and Teresa were now standing there next to us.
"Minho," I spoke in a serious tone, "Alby burned down the map room. it's all gone."
The smile on his face quickly faded.
"Let's go." Minho said and the five of us quickly followed him outside.